When people from the Heavenly City came, it was almost always bad news.
Grain distributions had happened before, but by the time the provisions trickled down from the county to the town and then to the village—after being skimmed off by countless officials and landlords—the villagers would receive only a pound or two of beans at most. These would be packed in burlap sacks filled with sand to add weight and showcase the Immortal Official's generosity and benevolence.
And for this "sweet treat" of a pound or two of beans, the villagers had to travel day and night to offer tribute at the God Temple.
The old village chief led everyone, young and old, to the village entrance to greet the envoy from the Heavenly City.
Anxiety weighed heavily on everyone's minds. The tribute ceremony had just been held, and those who had gone had not yet returned. What could the new Immortal Official possibly mean by opening the granaries for distribution now?
Dust swirled, and a strong wind swept across the ground. A crimson sun was eclipsed by a massive shadow.
"Such a grand Mystic Treasure—could it be that the Immortal Official himself has come to our village?"
"Keep your voice down! Do you have a death wish?"
The Seven Extremities treasure ship descended slowly. With a resounding thud, it landed and swayed slightly.
Blinded by the wind and sand, the villagers immediately knelt and bowed. "We humbly welcome the Immortal Official!"
"Ahem." Zhou Xiaoyun jumped off the deck, covering her mouth as she coughed repeatedly. "So much dust and sand—is there not a single tree here?"
"Elder, may I ask for directions? Is this Xiaolan Village?" Xu Kanshan followed closely behind, helping the village chief to his feet.
"Oh no, this is bad! Senior Brother Song specifically told us that no one is to kneel, and no one is to offer him tribute," Qiu Dacheng shouted. "Everyone, get up! The new Immortal Official hates it when people kneel!"
The villagers didn't dare to disobey, but as they rose to their feet, they exchanged bewildered glances. What kind of Immortal Official forbade kneeling?
Ji Xing pulled out a list. "Let me see, what has Xiaolan Village been allocated? Ah, windbreak grass seeds, shrub seeds, millet, cattle, sheep, chicks…"
As she spoke, heavy burlap sacks were tossed down from the ship. The Outer sect disciples handled them with ease, each carrying three sacks without breaking a sweat.
The villagers watched in awe. The treasure ship was majestic and solemn, and the young people descending from it seemed ethereal and otherworldly. Yet, they carried chickens by the neck and hauled burlap sacks over their shoulders.
The village chief trembled as he stepped forward. "Immortal Lord, what is all this?"
"I was once a mortal too, just spent a few years on the mountain. How could I be called an Immortal Lord?" Zhou Xiaoyun laughed. "These are gifts from Senior Brother Song—that is, Song Xian Guan—to all of you."
"The new Immortal Official? Giving these to our village?"
The villagers were stunned.
"That's right. Every village is receiving something, but the items vary depending on the local conditions. The total quantity is about the same, though."
The village chief cupped his hands and bowed in the direction of the Heavenly City. "What instructions does the Immortal Official have for us?"
Good things didn't just fall from the sky. With so much grain and livestock, what would they have to give in return?
Mothers held their children tighter, and the children buried their faces nervously. The elderly supported one another, their expressions wary.
The burlap sacks were piled high like a small mountain, yet no one dared to touch them, let alone scramble for them.
"Of course, there are requirements!" Ji Xing counted on her fingers. "The cattle can't be eaten—they must be kept for plowing. The sheep and chickens can't all be consumed either. You must save some to breed and lay eggs, so their numbers can grow in the future."
"Is… is that all?" the village chief asked cautiously. "Nothing else?"
"That's all! You're the first village. Everyone, lend a hand. Once we finish distributing the goods, we have to hurry to the next one."
As it turned out, not sending Meng Heze was the wisest decision Song Qianji had ever made. After Meng Heze broke through to Foundation Establishment, his aura had become fierce and intimidating.
Zhou Xiaoyun and Ji Xing were young women—one with a sweet smile, the other lively and cheerful.
Xu Kanshan and Qiu Dacheng, who had spent years frequenting the gambling dens at the foot of the mountain, had an easygoing and approachable air about them.With the four of them leading the grain distribution, it was easier to dispel suspicion and win trust.
The atmosphere at the village entrance instantly transformed. Men carried hemp sacks while women held chicks and led livestock.
Laughter and cheerful chatter filled the air, creating a harmonious scene.
The distinctive fragrance of rice wafted through, refreshing hearts and minds.
Someone hefted a sack, listening to the rustle of husks rubbing together, and exclaimed in astonishment: "It seems to be filled entirely with grain!"
He shouted ecstatically: "It's really all grain!"
Villagers swarmed forward to watch him tear open the sack mouth—
Packed full, golden husked grains shimmered with golden light under the morning sun.
That glitter seemed to carry an enticing aroma. Sounds of swallowing saliva and sniffing rose one after another, merging into a continuous chorus.
Pairs of weary or weathered eyes suddenly brightened, almost glowing green.
The Outer sect disciples were startled.
"You can't eat it raw!" Ji Xing didn't understand the complexities of exchanging soil for grain. "What are you afraid of? Of course the grain sacks are filled with grain."
She tore open all the sack mouths, letting everyone see clearly.
There were husked grains as well as hulled millet, each plump like the grain stored in wealthy households for New Year celebrations.
The village chief suddenly knelt toward the celestial city direction and kowtowed vigorously, "Thank you, Immortal Official! The village won't go hungry before this year's autumn harvest!"
Behind him, hundreds of villagers—men, women, old and young—all knelt together, kowtowing with loud thuds: "Thank you, Immortal Official!"
Uncomprehending children had their heads pressed down by mothers, while the elderly trembled as they tried to kneel.
"Get up quickly!"Qiu Dacheng was so anxious that he was bubbling at the mouth, 'Anyone who kneels is harming us, harming Song Xian Guan!""
Zhou Xiaoyun whispered: "Though our work on the mountain is hard, at least we get full meals. Later when we achieved grain abstinence, we didn't need to eat anymore. Look at them—they're the same age as my parents, yet they can't even get enough food, so thin they're just skin and bones."
All Outer sect disciples came from mortal backgrounds. Moved by the scene, their eyes grew moist.
Someone suggested: "Village chief, it would've been better not to open the sacks. Now that the millet is exposed and hens are clucking, who can still bring themselves to leave?"
"Let's slaughter a chicken. The children haven't seen meat in three years."
The village chief gritted his teeth: "Light fires and set up pots! Let everyone have a full meal first!"
The villagers' spirits soared as they rushed home to fetch wooden bowls and firewood.
A large pot was set up outdoors, billowing cooking smoke rising like beacon fire into the clouds.
Golden millet mixed with chopped chicken pieces and home-pickled sour wild vegetables.
Soon it boiled, bubbling and steaming, hot white vapor spreading everywhere.
Scalding meat porridge was ladled into wooden bowls. The sweet aroma of grains, rich fragrance of chicken and chicken fat, and sour-spicy scent of pickled vegetables wafted throughout the village with the wind.
The villagers stared fixedly at the pot, breathing in the aroma deeply.
Infected by the surrounding atmosphere, the Outer sect disciples also swallowed saliva at the rough, simple stew.
"Mother, it smells so good!"
Among the village women, Huan Niang had the most skillful hands and was put in charge of controlling the heat and stirring. Xiao Hu clung to her leg, refusing to let go. "I'm so hungry."
Huan Niang tapped his head: "We must serve the immortal masters first!"
Zhou Xiaoyun quickly said: "We've all achieved grain abstinence and don't need to eat. Please eat quickly."
Only then did the villagers form a long line holding bowls and waiting by the pot. Each person receiving a bowl would say "Thank you, Immortal Official" toward the celestial city direction.
Before the meat porridge had cooled, half-grown children eagerly gulped it down, then cried out from the scalding heat. Mothers would snatch the bowls and blow on spoonfuls to cool them before feeding the children.
The Outer sect disciples couldn't bear to watch closely, nor could they bring themselves to interrupt.Qiu Dacheng nudged Xu Kanshan with his elbow: "I don't regret leaving the sect and coming to Thousand Canals with Senior Brother Song. What about you, Old Xu?"
"Hmm." Xu Kanshan turned his head away, wiping his reddened eyes while explaining, "The smoke's too thick—it's stinging my eyes. Let's make a bet."
"Bet on what?"
"Let's bet on how long it'll take for this place under Senior Brother Song's care to have meat on every table and clothes in every home."
When the villagers were half-full, they slowed down, savoring every bite as if trying to memorize the taste.
They clung to chicken bones even after sucking them clean, and those with strong teeth cracked them open to chew carefully.
The village elder sighed: "I've only eaten a meal this good once in my youth. Thirty years have passed since then."
The atmosphere was a hundred times more festive than New Year's.
But Zhou Xiaoyun noticed the woman serving the stew wasn't eating the chicken congee, instead gazing anxiously in her direction as if wanting to speak but hesitating.
She approached proactively: "Auntie, did you have something to tell us?"
Huan Niang jumped in surprise: "Immortal Master, do you know Liu Er? The one who presented the Curved Shaft Plow."
Her eyes held both hope and fear as she whispered, "Is... is he still alive?"
"Mr. Liu has now become the Minister of Agriculture. Once his leg heals, he'll accompany Senior Brother Song here..."
Before Zhou Xiaoyun could finish, the woman suddenly burst into tears, pulling a child from behind her:
"Quick, thank the Immortal Master! Thank the Immortal Officials from Tiancheng!"
Zhou Xiaoyun wiped the woman's tears while Ji Xing, finding the child adorable, picked him up to play.
Ji Xing performed a few minor spells, drawing all the village children around her. Their gasps of wonder filled her with satisfaction.
When parting time came, a group of children tugged at her skirt, refusing to let go: "Fairy sister! Don't leave, don't go back to heaven!"
Village women carried the children away, coaxing them: "Let go now. The fairy needs to deliver chickens to the next village."
"If you let the fairy go, other children like you can all have chicken congee too."
Xiao Hu suddenly understood: "I get it now—the fairy came here to deliver chickens."
Zhou Xiaoyun nearly stumbled.
They arrived as esteemed Immortal Masters but left as the chicken delivery team.
...
The chicken delivery team visited every impoverished village in Thousand Canals. Wherever they went, crowds gathered excitedly, with aromas drifting for miles.
Meanwhile, Song Courtyard in the Immortal Official Manor remained quiet.
Zhao Ren's hoarse cries couldn't even penetrate the courtyard walls.
As sunset painted the sky, Song Qianji concluded his day's labor.
He spread the Thousand Canals map across the stone table, occasionally tracing lines with his finger.
Faint howls occasionally rose from the well in the courtyard, blending with insect chirps and bird songs into an unusual symphony.
When the last glow of twilight faded, Song Qianji finally folded the map and approached the well, peering down.
Zhao Ren had gotten his wish—guarding the treasured vault entrance he'd obsessed over. But trapped by formation spells, he couldn't move an inch.
Dust-covered and haggard, he didn't dare call out "Junior Brother Song" or "Brother Song," directly addressing him as senior brother:
"Senior Brother Song, I've given everything—three times over. Shouldn't you grant me a way out now?"
"Wait a bit longer," Song Qianji said. "Recover fully before leaving."
Whenever the "chicken delivery team" sent talisman messages saying supplies were running low, he'd extort more from Zhao Ren.
Every farmer could be a planting expert or agricultural specialist, potentially the next Liu the Carpenter who might invent new farming tools like the Curved Shaft Plow—naturally they were all more important than Zhao Ren.
"Brother Song, I'm here!" Ji Chen appeared by the well carrying bandages and medicinal powder. "Fellow Daoist Zhao, I've come to change your dressings."Zhao Ren wanted to cry but had no tears, wanting to curse but not daring to.
Whenever he saw Ji Chen's face, he was reminded of that bloody, painful night.
It was his eternal nightmare.
That night, after Song Qianji threw down the bamboo stick, Ji Chen took out a handkerchief made of ice-silk satin brocade and wiped his hands:
"Brother Song is a refined scholar, elegant and cultured. These hands are meant for holding brushes and moving chess pieces. Seeing them stained with blood always makes me uncomfortable inside."
Zhao Ren inwardly wailed, "Refined scholar, my foot! Since when do refined scholars act like this?"
"So..." Ji Chen took a deep breath and said firmly, "Let me handle these matters from now on. I'll do these tasks for Brother Song. Don't dirty your hands."
Zhao Ren nearly fainted from anger. Is there even one normal person here?
Song Qianji thought to himself, "Just moments ago, your face was pale, your legs trembling, looking like you were about to vomit. How did you suddenly become so brave? I hope you haven't awakened some terrifying trait. In our previous life, those who died in your formations often suffered immensely. Let's avoid that in this lifetime."
Song Qianji smiled slightly: "When we can avoid using force, we should try not to."
"I understand." Ji Chen nodded, glancing at the trembling Zhao Ren while silently adding in his mind:
But when force becomes necessary, we must be ruthless—not only does it save effort and time, but it also produces quick results.
Song Qianji said, "Hurting people isn't the goal, merely a means. Bandage his wounds now."
"Right away, Brother Song!"
Ji Chen worked meticulously on Zhao Ren, carefully picking out each bamboo splinter embedded in his flesh, removing the rotten tissue, and finally applying mortal-grade wound medicine.
Zhao Ren was drenched in cold sweat, writhing in agony: "Just kill me with one strike!"
Ji Chen said sincerely, "Fellow cultivator Zhao, life is precious. Don't be so quick to seek death. It's never too late to turn back from your misguided path and reform yourself."
After another round of dressing changes, the moans from the well gradually weakened.
"How is it?" Song Qianji asked.
"Almost healed. Cultivators recover quickly, no need to worry, Brother Song." Ji Chen said confidently.
Just then, the "Thousand Canals Chicken Delivery Team" entered, all four members beaming with joy.
Ji Chen immediately approached Ji Xing: "Silly little sister, you didn't cause any trouble, did you? No major messes?"
Though his words sounded critical, his expression showed genuine concern as he circled Ji Xing once to confirm she was unharmed.
Ji Xing rolled her eyes at him: "What trouble? Everywhere I went, the locals called me a fairy!"
"The people of Thousand Canals must have poor eyesight," Ji Chen said disdainfully.
"Thank you for your hard work!" Song Qianji laughed.
Qiu Dacheng said, "It wasn't hard at all! Everyone was very grateful to us!"
Ji Chen asked curiously and excitedly, "What did people say when you distributed the food?"
"Of course they said good things," Xu Kanshan replied. Meeting Ji Chen's sincere gaze, he couldn't bring himself to lie, though his smile became somewhat strained.
"But some people spread rumors—they actually said—"
"Said what?"
Zhou Xiaoyun sighed: "They said this was their last meal before death, meant to placate their resentment before the new Immortal Official sacrifices them to the heavens."
"Ah?" Ji Chen looked utterly bewildered. "Sacrifice to the heavens?"
"Others said the new Immortal Official enchanted the food and livestock, and eating too much would turn people into his puppet slaves," Ji Xing added with another sigh.
"No way? People actually believe that?!" Ji Chen laughed in disbelief.
He found this line of thinking utterly bizarre—something ordinary people would never conceive.Yet he felt indignant—after all their hard work, to be wronged like this.
"How outrageous! Senior Brother Song, what should we do now?" Ji Chen slammed the table.
"Do about what?" Song Qianji asked.
"How do we explain this?"
"We don't."
Song Qianji thought to himself that Liu the Carpenter's injured leg should be healed by tomorrow. Meng Heze, whom he had sent out on an errand, ought to be returning soon.
He was busy, with many ideas about farming and land reclamation waiting to be put into practice.
What others said wouldn't affect his work.
Seeing Song Qianji as composed as ever, the four assumed he had long been prepared and felt a wave of reassurance:
"The common people won't trust us overnight. Empty words prove nothing—only time reveals the truth."
"We'll respond to change by staying unchanged!"
...
In the southern part of Tiancheng, a mansion second in scale only to the Immortal Official Manor was brightly lit.
An elderly man seated at the head of the hall asked, "Has the news been spread?"
A young man standing in the hall replied respectfully, "Yes."
"What has been the reaction at the Immortal Official Manor? Has anyone come out to explain?"
"They... have shown no reaction at all."
The hall erupted in uproar. Anxiety and agitation were written plainly on everyone's faces.
The Immortal Official of Thousand-Ditch Prefecture held a transcendent status but never involved himself in mundane affairs. Real power lay in the hands of the three great families.
Immortal Officials came and went, but the powerful families remained steadfast. They were no strangers to Immortal Officials and had even developed a set of methods to deal with them, which had proven effective time and again.
Until they encountered Song Qianji, who refused to play by the rules.
"I heard the new Immortal Official plans to abolish all taxes except those on fields over a hundred acres! The more land you own, the more tax you pay!"
"I also heard he intends to personally travel throughout Thousand Canals!"
"We're all in the same boat! If we don't come up with a solution soon, we're doomed!"
The elderly man at the head suddenly opened his eyes and shouted, cutting short the arguments:
"Enough! There is one more plan. Though it is the worst option, it may still be worth a try!"
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